College Admissions Guide for Students and Families

College Admissions: The Basics

Private Vs Public High School and College Admissions Success

College Planning - 3 New Trends in College Admissions That Families Need to Know

College Planning - 3 Trends in College Admissions That May Affect Your Family

College Fairs - Are They Helpful for College Admissions?

College Essays - How to Make a Good One Better for College Admissions

College Admissions - What Is "Demonstrated Interest" Anyway?

College Admissions - Successful Strategies and Great College Advice

College Admissions Made Easy

5 Reasons Why College Visits Are Important For College Admissions

Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps: Crafting a Winning Personal Statement

Writing a memorable personal statement can seem like an overwhelming project for a young college applicant, but college essay coach Alan Gelb's holistic strategy and reassuring voice takes out the intimidation factor. Students will identify an engaging topic and use creative writing techniques to compose a vivid statement that will reflect their individuality. A much-needed supplement to other college entrance guides, this useful handbook will help students win over the admissions dean, while preparing them to write better papers once they've been accepted. A guide to crafting a meaningful and polished college admissions essay that expresses the applicant's unique personality, strengths, and goals. Step-by-step instructions lead students from idea to initial draft, through revisions, and to a final version ready for submission. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 69 percent of high school graduates enroll in college.ReviewsPublisher's Weekly, March 24th 2008: Included in test prep/college feature article

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The Best 373 Colleges, 2011 Edition (College Admissions Guides)

What makes The Best 373 Colleges the most popular college guide?

The Best 373 Colleges is a comprehensive college guide written for any student or parent mystified by the confusing college admissions process. This essential college-planning guide, from the experts at The Princeton Review, provides the facts about the best schools in the country, popular college ranking lists, and the information needed to make a smart decision about which schools to consider.

Revealing answers from college students cover each school’s unique character and give you extensive insight into their classes, financial aid, social life, and everything in between. Students are the experts, after all, and we talked to 122,000 of them!

•Unique "Financial Aid Rating" scores for all 373 schools and list of 100 "Best Value" Colleges

•One-of-a-kind college rankings reveal the top colleges in 62 categories based on how students at the schools–the real experts! –rated their colleges. The ranking lists include:
-Top Professors  
-Best Financial Aid
-Best Career/Job Placement Services
-Best Classroom Experiences
-Top Party Schools
-Dorms Like Palaces 
-Best Athletic Facilities 
-Best Campus Food
-Most Politically Active Students
-Most Liberal Students
-Most Conservative Students
-Best College Newspaper 
-…and many more!    

•Learn what you can do in high school to prepare yourself for admission to a selective college  

•Get all the application essentials–tuition, admissions criteria, deadlines, phone numbers, addresses, demographics, student/faculty ratios, and most popular majors–for quick reference and easy comparison when you’re narrowing down your choices

•Green college ratings help readers find out if schools are environmentally friendly

•Special section on great colleges for the 15 most popular majors
   

 What the media is saying about The Best 373 Colleges from The Princeton Review: 

“The offbeat indexes, along with the chattily written descriptions of each school, provide a colorful picture of each campus.”–The New York Times

“The most efficient of the college guidebooks. Has entertaining profiles larded with quotes from students.”–Rolling Stone

“A great book…it’s a bargain.” –CNN

“Our favorite college guidebook.” –Seventeen

“Provides the kind of feedback students would get from other students in a campus visit.” –USA Today

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College Admissions - How to Select the Right College

Getting into college, and choosing the right college to apply to, is not a mystery. But it does seem overwhelming unless you have a plan that gives you a road-map and strategy to choose the right colleges to apply to.

But how do you do that? There are almost four thousand colleges to apply to. How do you narrow your college search down to just three or ten colleges? Since you know that you want to go to college, how do you find the right one, the college that is the perfect fit for you?

Every year there are students who do not get accepted into any college. That's because they did not know how to find the right colleges to apply to. They did not have a sound plan or strategy when they made their college application list. One student I know only applied to one college. When that college said no, the student had to scramble to get accepted somewhere. So how do you make your list?

Choosing the right college is a big decision for your entire family. Education is a lifetime investment of time, money and effort. This is a tough and important decision.

First, you must ask yourself some important questions. If you don't ask yourself these questions now, you may be asking yourself the same questions as a freshman looking at finding a college to transfer to. Don't apply to a college simply because your best friend applied there or it's a prestigious school. Choose wisely. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

o Location - Where do I want to go to college? Do I want to go far from home or stay close? Large campus or a small campus, city or small town?

o Type of Institution - What kind of college do I want to attend? Two year community college or four year institution.

o Housing - Where do I want to live? On campus, off campus, at home, single room or double?

o Enrollment - Do I want large classes or small classes? Am I comfortable in a student body of thousands or just hundreds?

o Student Body - Do I want to go to a coed school or a same sex college?

o Academics - Majors or course offerings. Does the college offer my major? Or if I don't know what I want to major in, does the college have a strong liberal arts curriculum that offers me lots of majors to look at?

o Campus Life - Sports, intramural sports, clubs, band, theater. Are athletic and recreational facilities available?

o Costs -Can my family afford the cost of the college? What percentage of students receive financial aid? Does the college offer scholarships? Am I eligible for federal or state based financial aid?

o Criteria - What criteria does the college use in making their admission decisions?

After you have complied your list of schools that meet the criteria you have selected, you can narrow your list even further by ranking your list. Which colleges are your reach colleges-(those that you may have a hard time to get into) reasonably attainable colleges (those that you have a reasonable chance of getting accepted to and (3) sure-shot colleges (those that you know you'll be admitted to). Make sure that your list has all three categories.

You may have more than one favorite college. But if you take the time now to carefully consider your choices, you'll be happy wherever you go. You will be comfortable with your decisions because you asked yourself the right questions when you applied.

Deborah Battle Pointer is co-founder and co-executive producer of the Peabody award winning television show Def Poetry. She is the former Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Cornell University, former Director of Engineering at Columbia University School of Engineering and and former Director of Financial Aid at Columbia College, Columbia University.

A Social Network Solution for College Admissions?

Which school is the best match for me? Are you currently or did you ever ask yourself that question? Selecting a college is a decision that can't be taken lightly and a college search requires a lot of dedication and time. What makes a college a good match? There are many factors that should be accounted for when deciding on a good fit for each student. For example, fun extra-curricular activities may be very important for a student. Each student ought to evaluate where and how far they want to go in life in order to be sure to choose a college that will allow them to fulfill all of their most wildest dreams.

Students who plan on furthering their education by going on to law school or some other graduate program need to know if the college of their choice has a decent undergraduate program that will lead them in that path. After all, it does no good to be accepted into a college that has a bad reputation for its undergraduate programs. For example, if the student wanted to attend medical school and the undergraduate chemistry program at their college is known for being extremely easy, then the chances of that student being accepted will be slim to none.

What students seem to forget is that they aren't the only ones trying to impress someone. Colleges too are constantly trying to impress their prospective students. Therefore, if students are serious about getting the best education, they should do their own research on each college they are considering. Many students forget that the process goes both ways are happy to be accepted anywhere.

Well-rounded students are more likely to succeed in the real world after college than those who are only focused on school and academics. Grades and test scores don't show enough about students to determine who is well-rounded and who isn't. College admissions offices around the country have been looking for new ways to evaluate applicants.

It wasn't too long ago when I myself went through the whole painstaking ordeal of being accepted into the college of my choice. What I enjoyed about my ordeal however, is that the college admissions officers took a look at more than just my test scores and grades. There were many of us prospective students who spent a weekend doing various activities on that college campus while college admissions officers watched us closely and interviewed many of us. By doing so, there were able to see more of who I was and not just that I had awesome test scores. (I don't mean to brag, but, they were pretty good.) Nevertheless, I was happy with how the entire ordeal was run and that I was considered to be more than just a test score.

College admissions processes are still a work in progress. Many schools nationwide are looking for new ideas to improve the way they deal with college admissions, trying to find a way to make prospective students more than just grades and test scores. With so many applicants, it makes it very difficult for college admissions offices to look at each student in depth. A quicker way to filter through student applications would be an ideal way to better the process.

The world wide web has helped to ease the headache of college admissions for both students and colleges. Most colleges now have the system all set up online to ease the entire process. It is also widening the horizons for college admissions offices in their search for fresh new ways to look at applicants.

A new revolution in college admissions has begun. Go to Zinch.com to learn more about how colleges are recruiting students. Also find information on Yale admissions or any college of your choice. Its the best college search around with a profile on every college in America. J. Luke writes for ioVentures.

How to Make Colleges Want You: Insider Secrets for Tipping the Admissions Odds in Your Favor

What if you had colleges coming after you instead of the other way around?

The hidden little secret of college admissions is that most schools are desperate... desperate for great kids who do things differently and will make their campuses vibrant and exciting.

And you don't have to be an A student, the president of your student body, or the winner of the national spelling bee to do this. Any student can become someone that colleges compete for if you follow the recommendations in this book.

• The Secret of NTAs: Unusual activities that make you stand out
• Breaking the Zone: Take advantage of where you're from and who you are
• Striking the Nerve: Decode what colleges believe in, then match those values
• Your Application Team: Getting references, teachers, and counselors to boost your odd
  And much more

No matter where you are in your high school career, you can start these things today and vastly increase your odds of getting into the competitive college of your choice.

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Why Has Applying to College and College Admissions Become So Complicated?

Applying to college and college admissions just isn't like it used to be. In fact, there isn't much resemblance. Students used to receive an application from a school and completed the required information. Although it took a lot of writing, it was a pretty simple process. Essays were written or typed on the application and everything was turned into the school counseling office. There, teacher recommendations were added, along with an official transcript and test scores, all to be sent off to each college. SAT and ACT scores were included on the transcript.

Today, applying to college is quite different with almost everything being done online. While technology has improved some things, sending your application off into cyberspace leaves many students wondering what really happens to it and how do all of the pieces come together at their destination: the colleges. Essays are uploaded onto the online application, recommendations are frequently sent by Naviance, and SAT and ACT test scores are sent directly from the College Board or ACT. The only part that many high schools are still responsible for is mailing the official high school transcript and a profile of the school.

Most students need help with their college search and applying to college. They often feel overwhelmed and do not know where to turn. They can benefit from a knowledgeable parent, high school counselor or educational consultant who has the expertise and time to answer their questions and simplify the college application and college admissions process.

Here are seven areas where college-bound students need assistance:

1. College Search. Make sure students do a thorough college search and advise them on whether to apply early decision, early action, or regular decision. Share your knowledge of schools which you think might be a good fit and with which students may not be familiar. Students should keep an open mind during the college search and not limit their choices.

2. Essays. Brainstorm good essay topics that help students show a side of themselves that has not come through on another part of the application. Everyone has a story to tell and this is what colleges want to hear from them.

3. Organization. Help students keep track of all deadlines for college applications, supplements, and scholarships and provide a timeline to get each of these done. Provide the organization that is essential to the college application process.

4. Applications. Proofread all applications and essays to make sure they are free of spelling and grammar mistakes. Sloppy applications and essays can land students in the reject pile.

5. Financial aid and Scholarships. Advise students on financial aid and applying for scholarships and help them to find ways to cut college costs. Suggest schools to add to their college list that are known be more generous in their financial aid.

6. Test Preparation. Discuss the SAT and ACT, subject tests and test prep, and which dates are best to take these tests. Talk about the differences in the tests and what colleges require. Some educational consultants offer test prep or you can suggest other qualified individuals.

7. Stress and Anxiety. Help relieve the anxiety that is a natural part of the college admission process. It is often a very stressful experience for students. By feeling that they have things under control, most students find the college admissions process an interesting experience. This gives them a sense of confidence and allows them to put forth their best effort.

It is unrealistic to expect high school students to navigate the college search, application and admissions process on their own. Some parents feel they can work objectively and effectively with their own children and that they have the knowledge to do so. Some high school counselors are able to provide the individual attention and time, but most simply have too many students to advise and have limited time for college counseling. Some families turn to educational consultants who specialize in helping students with the college search and application process. Their services are affordable and can be a wise investment for parents.

Students need someone to answer their questions and keep the process moving. They need support and encouragement to discover what they want in a college experience. This will help them become stronger college applicants and enable them to make informed college decisions. As a family, you need to decide what works best for you and your college-bound student. Whoever you choose, the goal should be to make applying to college and college admissions a little less stressful and no more complicated than it already is.

Susie Watts is an educational consultant in Denver, Colorado. She is the founder of College Direction and has been working with students for more than twenty years. She assists with the college search, essay and application process, and provides college planning services for students of all abilities, including learning differences. She also works with student-athletes to help find appropriate colleges where they can participate athletically, but also have a successful academic experience. Susie provides test prep for the SAT and ACT through tutoring, small classes, and an online program where she is able to monitor a student's progress.

Susie works with students in Denver, but other parts of the country as well. She is a member of five professional organizations. For more information or just some good college information, you can go to her website at http://www.collegedirection.org.